Existing users, 
RadioSHARK
for the USB AM/FM radio
Version: 2.0.2
Beta quality but fixes issues
Feedback Type: Review
Contributed by: blappitydoo Monday, June 27 2005 @ 10:03 AM PDT
Product Platform: MacOSX
Used Product For: 1-6 months
Recommend Product: NO
This beta definitely has bugs. As I mentioned for an earlier version, I made the mistake of trusting Griffin to make a good product and they let me down. But at least this version is usable. Version 1.0.5 wouldn't even record, conflicted with other USB devices, and crashed my computer repeatedly. This version does none of that, as they have moved away from a kernel extension to a plain user-space application. That makes it much more stable. All necessary features (including recording on weekdays/weekends only) work, but my computer will not sleep with RS is running, which is a big negative. I use cron to quit/restart RS when needed, and it works fine that way. Hopefully Griffin is still working on this. I don't recommend this product yet due to the bugs and lack of attention by Griffin. When will the next beta be out? Who knows?
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Comments
Beta quality but fixes issues - blappitydoo
Hi, thank you for your opinion. The fact was, that RadioShark did crash my computer at version 1.0.5. I have indeed contacted Griffin repeatedly about my problems, starting from the very beginning, and had lengthy conversations (more than 20 emails exchanged) with their technical support people. The advice I got was to not use my other USB devices, so that's where I got the idea that a kext was to blame (sloppy thinking, I know). None of my other devices had any trouble. It was only when RadioShark was being used that my system crashed, often so bad I had to use the hardware restart button. I have never seen any other software on OS X do that to me. Also, recordings were truncated and badly mangled. When I stopped using RadioShark, the problems disappeared. So whether it was a kernel extension or not, RadioShark was the problem and it took more than a year for Griffin to fix the problems by releasing version 2.0, which is a total rewrite of 1.0. Now I do not have those problems that I listed before, though I use RadioShark daily. Recordings work well. I still use the same other software I used before. Pointing fingers elsewhere does no one any good and just denies reality. So the problem was obviously with the 1.0.5 version of the software.Thursday, June 30 2005 @ 10:03 AM PDT
Beta quality but fixes issues - blappitydoo
I misspoke. I received my RadioShark in January of this year, not a year ago. But it still took several months for them to fix the problems I was having.Thursday, June 30 2005 @ 10:22 AM PDT
Beta quality but fixes issues - blappitydoo
BTW, The last email I sent to griffin's technical support went completely unanswered and ignored. I did not even get a courtesy acknowledgement that they are reading my email. But they are fixing the issues I'm worried about, so it's not so bad. I just hate it when companies ignore paying customer complaints and suggestions. (are you listening, Apple?)Thursday, June 30 2005 @ 10:08 AM PDT
Beta quality but fixes issues - pianis
Hi wealthy chef. It was not sloppy thinking for you to think there was a kext, because you instinctively know an application is not in a position to wreak USB device havoc (at least not on accident). Hence why I was pointing my finger elsewhere.I do not doubt that you were experiencing crashes while using the 1.0.5 software. However, just because it doesn't happen with 2.0b21 doesn't mean the actual problem is gone, just the symptom. An application causing a kernel panic can really only be accomplished (minus system software bugs) if 1) if it accesses low-level services in an incorrect way, or 2) if the computer itself is having problems. So, given that most users aren't experiencing kernel panics with the 1.0.5 software, perhaps it would be worthwhile for you to do some maintenance?
Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 02:03 PM PDT
Beta quality but fixes issues - pianis
wealthy chef, the radioSHARK software has never used a kernel extension or any other low-level software. If you were having problems with v1.0.5 conflicting with other USB devices and crashing your computer it sounds like you might have other issues with your computer. Any problems you are having with b21 should be sent to Griffin tech support with a summary of the problems, I am quite certain they will be considered and fixed if necessary.Reply to This
Wednesday, June 29 2005 @ 06:24 PM PDT